Boston Celtics Draft Profile: Marquese Chriss

One of the more intriguing mid first round options for the Boston Celtics will be Marquese Chriss. He has the potential to become a great two way player for the Celtics’ front court. His offensive skill set is something that Stevens can run the offense around and his athleticism gives him the potential to be a great rim protector and rebounder, even if he is not there yet.

Kelly Olynyk is the only reliable offensive option in the Celtics’ front court and he still is one dimensional. Olynyk developed his shot fake but only ever had a real impact with his three point shot. Chriss has an offensive skill set that is completely lacking in the Celtics’ front court. They do not have any player with his combination of post moves and outside shooting.

Chriss is already able to stretch the floor and has many different ways to attack the defense in the paint, and he still has not reached his potential. The Celtics’ offensive system can be a great place for Chriss to grow. They will allow him to get and take a lot of opportunities, and he will be able to figure out his best ways of attacking defenses.

Chriss has an incredible skill set for Stevens to work with and he will find multiple ways to use him on the offensive end. He still does not have the consistency and reliability to have the offense run through him. The Celtics will need to develop Chriss and allow him to get comfortable in the offense before he will be able to take over.

The biggest obstacle for Chriss may be his defensive activity. Chriss has the potential to be a great shot blocker and has the mobility to defend on the perimeter and the pick and role. Unfortunately, Chriss still lacks the reliability on the defensive end that will get him playing time under Brad Stevens. That defensive activity is also something the Celtics will be looking for before they draft. Having all players being active on defense at all times was crucial to their defensive success, and the Celtics will not want to threaten that. Arguably the Celtics’ biggest strength this season is Chriss’ biggest area of concern and that may be the most important part of his development if drafted by the Celtics.

Chriss has the kind of potential that the Celtics’ front court desperately needs, and if he manages to fall to one of their later first round draft picks, his upside as an elite two way player that can dominate offensively will be too much to pass up on.

Chriss has the kind of potential that is certainly worth the risk for the Celtics. Unless they manage to improve the long term status of their front court through free agency or the draft, they need to find and realize the kind of talent that Chriss can be.

The Celtics do not have the front court talent in order to get by with reliable role players. The Celtics need difference makers in their front court, and if he is given time and develops properly, Chriss can become, by far, the best two way force in the Celtics’ front court.

It is the wide range of skills that makes Chriss so intriguing on the offensive end. Amir Johnson was incredibly reliable finishing at the rim, Olynyk is a knock down three point shooter. Unfortunately, the Celtics have no player in their front court that is dynamic enough offensively in order to have the offense run through them. The Celtics need more reliable shooters and the great part about Chriss is that should be at least the bare minimum he brings, especially when compared to the majority of their front court.

The outside shooting is what the Celtics need the most but it may be more important that they find someone who is able to create their own offense and attack in multiple ways, keeping the defense off balance and opening things up for his teammates. The Celtics need shooters, but they need overall dynamic and versatile offensive players even more and that works well with Chriss who has been a good but not great three point shooter. Right now, Chriss may be too raw and inconsistent to create that offense in the NBA but Brad Stevens and an offensive system that has accommodating a lot of poor finishers should change that.

Giving Stevens such raw talent in the front court made be the best thing for both sides. Stevens will get an opportunity to mould the great talent that everyone sees in Chriss, and if anyone if going to get him to be more active and consistently play with more intensity, it is the Celtics. They are a young team but Stevens has established himself and the unity they have developed will make it a great place for incoming players to learn from the players that understand and embrace the system. The Celtics do not have any players that didn’t appear to buy into what Stevens wanted to do and that should ensure that incoming rookies will follow suit.

Chriss is already aggressive enough to be a decent fit in the Celtics’ offense and if he finds the best ways for him to attack (and his skill set will give him plenty of options) then Stevens can turn him into an offensive force for the Celtics, without threatening the aggressive pace they established this season. The Celtics had to deal with someone like Marcus Smart remaining aggressive, taking all kinds of shots and it could be refreshing to see someone with the offensive skill set to dominate take that aggressive approach in the Celtics’ front court.

Chriss also has great size and position versatility for the Celtics. Anyone that can play power forward can also play center for the Celtics and, if the Celtics decide to go big, he can give them some extra small forward depth.

The biggest issue may be the rebounding. As it stands now, the Celtics should not expect Chriss to get them that rebounding edge that they desperately need, but that pales in comparison to everything else that he can potentially offer.

Next: Boston Celtics: Post Draft Lottery Mock

Chriss will not be an option with their first pick, and he may not last to when the Celtics pick again in the first round. However, if Chriss is an option in the middle of the first round for the Celtics, he has the kind of potential that they need to take a risk on. The best part is that Chriss can still have some of an impact out of the gate, but a lot of that may depend on how cluttered the Celtics’ front court looks like next season.